Best Season | Shoulder Season | Low Season | Not Available
If you`re looking for a tour to visit the southern areas of Patagonia, our 1008 tour is a great option. It`s a 13-night program that starts in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Gate to visit Tierra del Fuego National Park and to navigate the Beagle Channel and visit the bird`s island, seal lion`s Island and Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. Be ready to take hundred of photos. In the Beagle, you also can visit the Martillo Island Penguin Reserve and Harberton Ranch. Check alternatives available. Then, we will embark in the unique Australis Cruise to visit southern fjords and glaciers of Patagonia, and the mythical Cape Horn. Then, we will disembark in Punta Arenas to continue our visit in Puerto Natales, to enjoy the incredible Torres del Paine National Park, a highlight in Patagonia. Finally, we cross again to Argentina to visit El Calafate, gate to enjoy the incredible Perito Moreno Glacier and other glaciers in Los Glaciares National Park.
The program starts in Ushuaia and ends in El Calafate, but you also can start in El Calafate, to fly back to Ushuaia, take the Australis Cruise and finalize in Torres del Paine and Punta Arenas. So from there, you can continue to other destinations in Chile if you want.
It`s a fantastic option to enjoy the very best of southern Patagonia, including the amazing Australis Cruise!
Welcome to Ushuaia, famously known as the southernmost city in the world and a gateway to cruises visiting Cape Horn and Antarctica. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you for your transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore. Depending on your arrival time, you might want to enjoy some optional activities. Check the information below for details.
After breakfast, we’ll embark on our first excursion. Tierra del Fuego National Park, just 12 km from Ushuaia, offers a pristine natural environment to explore. Upon arrival, you have the option to purchase tickets for one of the park’s main attractions: the Train of the End of the World. Details are provided below.
As we explore the park, you’ll encounter diverse tree species in its distinctive forests, including bushes, beech trees, ñires, Indio’s beard, and a variety of flowers across its 63,000 hectares. We’ll make several stops to appreciate the panoramic views and capture great photos.
Our next destinations will be Verde Lake and Lapataia Bay, where you might spot beaver dams and peatlands. On our return, we’ll stop at Lake Roca (also known as Acigami) for final photos of the national park. We’ll return to Ushuaia around 13:30, giving you some free time for lunch. I recommend trying the unique King Crab or the delicious Patagonian Lamb!
In the afternoon, you can stroll to the port, just a few steps from the center, and board a catamaran for a Beagle Channel cruise. This navigation will take you to Sea Lions Island, Birds Island, and the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. You’ll see a colony of sea lions and Imperial Cormorants among other birds. As we head back to the city, enjoy panoramic views of Ushuaia and the surrounding mountains. Return is around 17:30, depending on the season. Enjoy your free time and overnight stay.
Today is free for you to explore at your leisure. Choose from a variety of options: visit Fagnano and Escondido Lakes, enjoy a breathtaking trek to Laguna Esmeralda, or take an exciting 4×4 ride to the heart of the island.
After breakfast, you’ll have some free time until your transfer to the airport for your flight to your next destination. If time permits in the morning, you can take advantage of some of the optional activities listed below. Say goodbye to Ushuaia, the city at the end of the world…
Check in at 409 San Martín Ave., downtown Ushuaia, between 10:00 and 17:00 (10 AM – 5 PM) on the day of your cruise departure.
Board the Australis Cruise at 18:00 (6 PM). After a welcoming toast and introductions of the captain and crew, the ship sets sail for one of the most remote destinations on Earth. During the night, we traverse the Beagle Channel and cross from Argentina into Chilean territorial waters. As we navigate the narrow Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste islands, the lights of Ushuaia fade away. This marks the beginning of an incredible journey.
At dawn, the Australis Cruise crosses Nassau Bay and enters the remote archipelago of Cape Horn National Park. Weather and sea conditions permitting, we will go ashore on the windswept island that houses the legendary Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). Discovered in 1616 by a Dutch maritime expedition and named after the town of Hoorn in West Friesland, Cape Horn is a dramatic 425-meter (1,394-foot) promontory overlooking the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage. Once the only navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic, it was often referred to as the “End of the Earth.” The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005. The Chilean navy maintains a permanent lighthouse on the island, staffed by a lightkeeper and his family, as well as the small Stella Maris Chapel and the modern Cape Horn Monument (currently awaiting repair due to damage from fierce winds).
You can visit our lecture room to learn more about this fascinating region. Returning across Nassau Bay, we anchor at the renowned Wulaia Bay, a location where human history rivals the natural beauty. Once home to one of the largest Yámana aboriginal settlements, the bay was described by Charles Darwin and sketched by Captain FitzRoy in the 1830s during their voyages on HMS Beagle. After exploring the Australis-sponsored museum in the old radio station, which focuses on the Yámana people and European missionaries, passengers have the option of three hikes (increasing in difficulty) up the heavily wooded mountain behind the bay. These hikes lead through an enchanting Magellanic forest of lengas, coihues, canelos, and ferns, culminating in panoramic viewpoints of the bay. It’s a remarkable excursion. Return to the ship for some free time to reflect on your amazing day.
Overnight, we continue our Patagonia glacier tour, navigating the narrow Gabrial Channel, Magdalena Channel, and Cockburn Channel. After rounding the remote Brecknock Peninsula, the Australis ship heads eastward and re-enters the Beagle Channel. By morning, we arrive at Pia Fjord and embark on a Zodiac shore excursion to Pia Glacier. This excursion offers two options: a short hike to a panoramic view of the glacier, which stretches from the mountaintops to the sea, or a more challenging walk up a lateral moraine of the old Pia Glacier.
The glacier’s feminine name may be a tribute to Princess Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911), daughter of the Italian king.
Continuing west along the Beagle Channel, we anchor near Garibaldi Glacier for another shore excursion. Garibaldi is one of the few Patagonian glaciers that is gaining mass rather than shrinking. This time, we hike through pristine Magellanic forest to a glacial waterfall, a towering wall of ferns and moss, and spectacular viewpoints overlooking the glacier and fjord. The hike is demanding — very steep, with rough footing — and may not be suitable for everyone. For those who prefer to stay onboard, the captain will ensure everyone can enjoy the panoramic views of the stunning Garibaldi Glacier from the upper decks.
Early in the morning, we sail through the Cockburn Channel and enter Agostini Sound. From here, you can view glaciers descending from the Darwin Mountain Range, with some reaching the water. We will disembark for an easy walk around a lagoon formed by the melting Águila Glacier, with stunning views directly in front of the glacier. In the afternoon, we approach Condor Glacier via Zodiac, with hopes of spotting some of the abundant Andean Condors in the area.
After an overnight cruise through Magdalena Channel and back into the Strait of Magellan, we anchor off Magdalena Island, located halfway between Tierra del Fuego and the Chilean mainland. The island, crowned by a distinctive lighthouse, was once a crucial supply point for navigators and explorers and is now home to a large colony of Magellanic penguins. Weather permitting, we will go ashore at dawn and hike a path through thousands of penguins to a small museum housed in the historic 1902 lighthouse. The island also hosts various bird species. In September and April, when the penguins are elsewhere, this excursion is replaced with a Zodiac ride to Marta Island to observe South American sea lions.
After a brief cruise south along the strait, disembarkation at Punta Arenas is scheduled for around 11:30 AM.
Camera extension poles are prohibited on Magdalena Island.
If you have booked an organized tour, you will be transferred to Punta Arenas Airport, or to your hotel or bus station in Puerto Natales to continue your itinerary. If you only booked the cruise, our services conclude here.
Arrival at the Puerto Natales bus station or Punta Arenas Airport, followed by a transfer to your hotel in Puerto Natales. This charming city is situated at the opening of the Ultima Esperanza Sound, providing a perfect gateway to explore stunning destinations like Torres del Paine National Park and the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers. After check-in, you’ll have free time to stroll around the city or simply relax and prepare for the adventures ahead.
After breakfast, get ready for one of the best excursions Patagonia has to offer – a visit to Torres del Paine National Park!
We’ll begin by picking up all passengers from their accommodations at around 8:00 am, ready to capture the first stunning photos of the day.
Our first stop is Milodon’s Cave, where the remains of a prehistoric animal were discovered in 1895. Today, you’ll find a replica of this ancient mammal, along with fascinating information about the glaciological processes that shaped the cave.
Next, we head to Cerro Castillo, where you’ll enjoy a short break to grab a snack, sip some coffee, or browse the souvenir shops.
Then, it’s on to the breathtaking landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park! Highlights include the Sarmiento Lake Lookout, views of the Paine Towers, Paine’s Horns, and Almirante Nieto Hill. Keep an eye out for the local wildlife – you’re likely to spot guanacos, lesser rhea, and condors. The park is also home to foxes, hares, and the elusive mountain lion, also known as the “lion of America.”
Within the park, you’ll encounter the striking turquoise lakes of Pehoé and Nordenskjold, as well as scenic waterfalls and ice-covered mountains. A short 15-minute walk will bring you close to the impressive Salto Grande Waterfall.
After lunch, we’ll continue with a walk along the shores of Grey Lake, where you can admire floating icebergs and, in the distance, the mighty Grey Glacier. Depending on the group’s preferences, we’ll either return via the same route or take a new road before dropping you off at your accommodation. Free time and overnight.
After breakfast, the day is yours to enjoy. Feel free to explore or select from a variety of optional activities listed below.
Enjoy your final breakfast in Puerto Natales, followed by some free time before your transfer to the bus station or Punta Arenas Airport to continue your journey.
Tip: Don’t miss out on adding a Cruise Expedition aboard the Skorpios III! This unforgettable adventure will take you through southern glaciers and fjords in Chilean Patagonia.
Arrive in El Calafate, a key gateway to explore the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier and other magnificent glaciers in the region. After checking in to your accommodation, you have some free time to relax. For those eager to explore, various optional activities are available on your arrival day. See the options below.
After breakfast, embark on a visit to one of Patagonia’s highlights: the breathtaking Perito Moreno Glacier.
El Calafate is situated 80 km from the glacier, with the journey taking you along a 50 km paved road. The final 30 km are within Los Glaciares National Park.
During the first 40 km, you’ll traverse the Patagonian steppe, a typical feature of the region. Once inside the National Park, you’ll notice a dramatic change in vegetation, with ñires (Nothofagus antarctica), guindos (Nothofagus betuloides), and lengas (Nothofagus pumilio) becoming prominent. You may also see some isolated canelos (Drimys winteri) and vibrant flowers, such as the intense red notro (Embothrium coccineum), the iconic flower of the Andean Patagonian forest.
Upon reaching the glacier, you’ll be awestruck by its grandeur and can enjoy unforgettable views from the walking paths. There will be free time to experience the glacier’s splendor, including watching massive ice blocks tumble into the lake with a thunderous roar—an awe-inspiring natural spectacle. Facilities at the glacier include a restaurant, snack bar, restrooms, and a pay campsite.
Optional activities include the Mini Trekking, where you can walk on the glacier’s ice, or the Nautical Safari, a boat tour offering views of the glacier from the lake. Details of these options are available below.
This is a full-day excursion, with return to the hotel expected in the late afternoon.
After breakfast, the day is free for you to choose from various full-day boat navigation tours, each offering unique views of different glaciers within Los Glaciares National Park. Check out the available options below.
After breakfast, enjoy some free time until your transfer to the airport or bus station for the next leg of your journey. If your departure is in the afternoon, you may select an engaging optional activity from our list below.
Goodbye, El Calafate!
BUENOS AIRES EXTENSION!
Welcome to Buenos Aires! The Argentina capital city and one of the most important cities in South America and the world. Add this package to enjoy a 3-night stay and visit La Boca, San Telmo, Recoleta, the Obelisk… taste a typical “asado criollo”, enjoy the unique Tango Dance, and taste the famous malbec wine:
DAY 1 – Arrival to Buenos Aires!
DAY 2 – City Tour visiting the best of Buenos Aires & Dinner Tango Show
DAY 3 – Choose from visit to a typical estancia or farm in the Pampas, visit the Tigre Delta, enjoy a walking tour, or take a polo lesson.
DAY 4 – Transfer out. Good bye Buenos Aires!
BARILOCHE EXTENSION PROGRAM
San Carlos de Bariloche is the gate to enjoy the lakes district in Argentina. The area, full of beautiful lakes and forests, offers many excursions and adventure activities to do. It`s also the gate to cross to Chile by lake, throught the Andes. Bariloche is also a wonderful place to taste delicious chocolate, and excellent local dishes.
DAY 1 – Arrival to Bariloche
DAY 2 – City Tour visiting Bariloche neighborhood + Boat Navigation to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Nat Park in Hahuel Huapi Lake
DAY 3 – Choose from visiting 7-lakes circuit and San Martin de los Andes, the incredible Tronador Mount, or Villa La Angostura
DAY 4 – Transfer out. Good bye Bariloche
